Stages of Collecting European Portrait Miniatures of the 16th – 19th Centuries

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to ascertain the stages of collecting European portrait miniature of the 16^th – 19^th century from the outset of this art until now as an important factor for the research of the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts miniatures, Kyiv. The research methodology is based on historiographical analysis coupled with axiological and holistic approaches to identify the relationship between the history of collecting and the evolution of the art of portrait miniature. The scientific novelty of the article lies in determining the general trends in collecting works to clarify the reasons for collecting European portrait miniatures in Ukraine, inter alia, at the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts in Kyiv. Conclusions. Transformation of portrait miniature from an object of private property to a museum artefact began in the 17^th century. Portrait miniature was recognised as a separate artistic genre. The processes of studying the term “miniature portrait”, researching of the art tradition, and creating the first museum’s collections were launched. It was at that time that the core of the miniatures collection was set up by its founders in the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts. Now it is one of the greatest in Ukraine. Understanding of the artworks value have been proceeding during decline of demand for the traditional portrait miniature after invention of daguerreotype. Nowadays, the works are of interest to collectors, but the painting tradition continues only among amateurs. 

Keywords: portrait, painting, miniature, European miniature, collection, history, research, the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts.